Alright...Let's see how this chapter goes.
Sorry this took so long but I'm graduating in a week, I had three projects to do (got 'em done though!), and have an AP test for tomorrow...Sorry about the wait.
FYI: I've done some wikipedia surfing for the next chapter - as well as this one - so yes...there are refferences to other comics or other story lines that have nothing to do with (or may have nothing to do with) Young Justice. Also...I'm ashamed to admit I'm behind on watching the episodes even though this story is so far off base it may not even matter. I got irritated checking to see if they'd updated and let it sit for a while. Naturally, half a dozen or so episodes came out and a second season has begun. Alright...I know what I'm doing this summer.
We'll see if I can get to it between Florida, Japan, and getting ready for college. (does anybody else hear the gang singing 'Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh my'? No? Alright...Tin Man! Help me find my brain!)
It took maybe another two hours for the cops to show up, sirens screeching obnoxiously as they braked too hard and skidded to stops. Conner watched with Robin from the top of the shipping container as Kon-El wrangled Mallory into sitting on the concrete, Kaldur and the others arriving with a rather defeated looking elder man. Nightwing was with them, leaning against another container, his arms crossed over his broad chest.
Both he and Robin stiffened when they saw the man Kaldur and the others brought in but Nightwing seemed to hate him a bit less than Robin did. He sneered sure but he didn't strangle a rumbling growl of a curse. No, he stayed silent and brooding. Conner had to wonder what this man did to him…and to Robin. As clear as it was becoming that the cop they had been spotted by may actually be his Robin all grown up and far more brooding than Conner felt was natural, Conner wasn't all that sure about what to think about why they seemed so different.
Maybe it was just the age difference that Conner was witnessing – even his future-self seemed more…mature or tolerant of things around him. Maybe it was the fact that they'd jumped maybe fifteen years into the future. There was a bit of leeway in that essence. It was the future and it was well known that sooner or later, Robin would no longer fit the title of 'Boy Wonder'. Even Red Arrow wasn't going to be able to be seen sooner or later since he'd no longer be a teenager.
Though…the fact that he was present in the catch made Conner also wonder whether or not he'd sorted through whatever his issues with the teams taken care of. Though it was a bit of a stretch in some considerations but then again…his own future-self seemed completely comfortable with his father – who also seemed to have gotten through his little issues too.
Superman was standing nearby, his blue eyes fixed on the kids – almost all of them actually in their adulthood – as they sat Zucco and Mallory next to each other. Kon-El was even standing within two feet of him comfortably, Superman not even flinching away from him or leaning away as if he wanted to try to stand away from him without letting on. Both were completely calm, at ease.
M'Gann bounced over to Kon-El, her green face beaming from a smile that could have outshone the sun in Conner's opinion, and wrapped her arms around one of his thick arms. She pecked his cheek and whispered something in his ear that made Conner – both of them – and Superman blush a bit.
Superman coughed in warning and M'Gann giggled before bouncing off again. Kon-El couldn't stop her fast enough, his hand unable to catch her cape before she was at Zatanna's side. The sorceress was standing next to Artemis who was sending occasional glances towards Kid Flash who was busy talking to Red Arrow. Both boys had a hand on the shoulder of each criminal and were talking – joking – with each other. Conner cocked his head in interest at the odd looks the blonde archer was sending the junior speedster. When was that going to start up?
"Alright…," Superman sighed. "Where are the wonderful police of the city now?"
"Late," Zatanna and Artemis chorused. They looked back at each other, pointed and yelled "Jinx!" at the same time. The very red colored Robin stared at them in amazement and shook his head. Kon-El started laughing heartily, leaning back a bit as his huge body shook from laughter.
"Stop," Kaldur chided them with a slight moan. He was down the line a bit, watching out for the cops that were supposed to be coming soon. Then again, the whole issue on them being late probably had a lot to do with the fact that this was Gotham's evil twin sister city.
"Are they even going to bother come?" the Red Robin asked sounding more irritated than anything else. Also, there was a slight hint of excitement hidden there. Conner automatically stiffened, his own Robin doing the same thing. M'Gann read minds as well as Superman read voices – though, Batman was better in both areas than both.
"They better," Kon-El rumbled, allowing his irritation to shine through. He hiked his shoulders, arms crossed over his wide chest. "It's either that or I have to call a specific cop and ask him to call them – and bitch them all out."
"Something tells me I know who you're suggesting," Red Arrow muttered softly. "Please don't bring him in…he's already worse than I was."
"Yeah…let's leave him alone," Kid Flash said though he seemed to want nothing more than to see this person they were mentioning.
"We're not going to call him," Superman stated. He deadpanned it really. Kon-El sent him a look that said almost everything. Red Robin did too.
"I'm going to guess Batgirl called you," Red Robin murmured.
"No."
"Bats?" Kon-El asked.
"Yes."
"Lovely," Kon-El mused softly, turning his head to gaze at the crashing ports. To Conner, it sounded like Kon-El hadn't expected Batman to call in about this cop they were mentioning – seemingly avoiding as well.
"Why not?" Kid Flash asked – naturally.
Kon-El sent him the darkest glare Conner and Robin had ever seen. Maybe it was just because it was on par with the Bat-glare but it had Superman's face behind it which only meant that there was an undeniable power – instead of a wonder that it may be a bluff or may not be like with Batman – behind the threat.
Kid flinched a bit at the glare and Superman placed a gentling hand on his son's shoulder, a nervous smile forming on his face. Conner flushed when Robin nudged him with an elbow and stuck out his tongue playfully. Behind them, Nightwing shook his head, his eyes rolling in slight irritation – apparently, he agreed with them on how it had taken long enough.
"We're just not going to bother him," Red Robin explained.
"That doesn't really answer the question," Kaldur muttered softly, a bit put out. Even M'Gann looked unhappy about not being able to at least check in with this person.
"He's on strict home stay at the moment since he got himself shot in the line of duty," Kon-El snapped. The group's eyes collectively widened in horror. Zucco flinched a bit but Mallory snorted softly. "And he doesn't want to see any of us anyway so forget it!"
"A cop got shot here?" Malory laughed ruefully. "That's just sad."
Kon-El's expression turned sinister – Superman groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head.
"Says the sniper in question," Kon-El smirked, crossing his arms over his chest in a smug gesture. He had an upper hand and the murderous looks on the groups' faces only began to cement it in. When he began to figure it out, Mallory's face fell, his heartbeat picking up in fear. Even Superman was giving him an evil look that was well hidden behind exhaustion.
Robin and Conner shared a look – they knew who was being spoken of. On duty cop, shot in action, who knew Kon-El. There weren't many people who fit that description at the moment.
The sound of sirens began to reach their ears and Red Arrow managed to loosen his bowstring a bit once it came screaming towards them. Artemis took the bow from her string as well, placing it reverently back into the quiver, her eyes still blazing. Kid Flash crossed his arms over his chest, muttering about common courtesy while M'Gann patted his shoulder gently. Zatanna and Red Robin made themselves look as bored as possible while Kon-El and Superman made sure to make themselves look disinterested.
The cars skidded to uneasy halts and the first one to leap out was a brunette woman, her eyes firing with determination and irritation. She strode towards the group, barking orders at her companions as she went, all in civilian clothes. There was a gun on her hip sure but it didn't really seem to matter considering she alone could scare the crap out of any petty criminal. Zucco sure seemed scared of her. Mallory had enough sense to look worried about her but relieved for the possibility of escaping the young adults who looked ready to kill him.
"Amy Rohrbach," she snarled, holding up a badge. Conner heard Nightwing stifle a groan as he stiffened behind them. "I'll be happy to tell you we've got our own vigilante hero here; we don't need more of you." Something in her voice said she had something else in mind about aforementioned vigilante though. "Mind telling me who've caught?"
Superman leapt in, Kaldur giving him a thankful look as the cops behind her began to grumble about tight-asses who weren't worth it. Conner had a feeling it was a good thing she didn't have any super powers – those cops may very well be dead by now if her current temper were anything to go on. The explanations were quick, concise and done away with easily. As the elder Super spoke to the woman, the archers dragged Zucco to a car, M'Gann and Wally taking care of Mallory.
Amy, Grayson's partner as Conner remembered from the phone calls, was calming when Superman finally explained that a member of the League had been searching for the man named Zucco for years – making a quick mention of the Grayson family on the sly as he did – and also that Mallory had been the sniper who tried to take out a cop not a week ago. She seemed a bit wary of the fact that none of the team spoke very well of Nightwing when he was mentioned to have been busy with something by Kon-El and Red Robin, but she didn't say anything about it.
Of course, it didn't really help that Conner could only partially agree with the sneers that Red Arrow, Artemis, and KF seemed all too willing to give on the man since he'd only just met him on an apparently shitty night. A cop shooter and someone who'd apparently done something to Nightwing for the reaction he gave when Zucco came up. Hell, the looks Nightwing gave him from a far were enough to strike Conner's nerves a light with concern.
No one should be able to hate another person that much.
"Alright," Amy sighed. "We'll take it from here." She waved them all off with as much snarkiness as she could muster and then turned on her fellows who scattered as she barked orders at them. They were scared of her, some of them irritated at her. It was a strange mixture to see.
As soon as the cars drove off, Superman declared it was time for them all to head home – file any reports they wanted to write up, and so on. KF smiled and stared to bounce about as M'Gann suggested dinner options. The two archers said they'd love to have dinner with the group but had things to do with Green Arrow so they couldn't. Kaldur stated he had a meeting with his king in a few minutes – murmuring that he was not looking forward to reeking of the port waters of Blüdhaven. Zatanna however was all too happy to join in on dinner – especially after Red Robin said he had homework to do.
Kon-El said he'd see if he could make it, that he had something to check in on. Superman casually got the group to ignore it, the harbor suddenly clear of them heroes in a matter of moments. Teleporter beams had arrived out of nowhere for those who signaled for them and M'Gann called down her ship for those who would be coming with her – Kaldur saying he need a shower before going to Atlantis. Superman flew off, casting a quick glance to his son as he went but Kon-El ignored him fairly easily.
"Well that was fun to watch – again," Nightwing hissed as Kon-El landed gently on the container. "Are we done with pleasantries?"
"Yeah…though I have no idea how you plan to get halfway across the world to take care of this without a bit of help," Kon-El replied snarkily. Nightwing scoffed.
"In case you forgot," Nightwing hissed, "I have a cycle that can keep up with you!"
"Yeah…but is it in town?"
"Of course it is! If I leave it in Gotham, Batgirl will steal it to race you more often than she already does!"
Kon-El chuckled but nodded as Nightwing shook his head in irritation, pressing a button on his utility belt. It took about ten minutes before the roar of an engine reached their ears and a beautiful motorcycle revved to a halt below them. It was…rival to the ones the team had for their missions. Actually, it was much nicer, like the ones Batman would occasionally show when he had them doing laps on the track for the hell of it all.
Those usually were only driven by him and Robin and would out run the other cycles.
This one rivaled those.
"Batman let you leave with that?" Kon-El asked his eyes wide and highly appreciative. Conner couldn't blame him. It was a sleek black with blue accents, the frame smoother than anything Conner had seen before around school.
"If giving me one of the Bat-planes will keep me from irritating him, he'd give me one," Nightwing smiled. "Sadly, I prefer the bikes."
"Sadly?" Conner groused. The Super-cycle was the only thing he could think of as a better alternative to the sleek bike below them.
"Yeah; the jets are faster," Nightwing shrugged. He glanced back at Kon-El. "Do I have to worry about Superman following?"
"No…he wouldn't bother on this one anyway. He knows we're in deep shit with this – he remembers what went on last time we all had to deal with this remember?"
"Right…wasn't he one of the heads called in?" Nightwing asked. Conner felt a blush rising over his cheeks as the two went about ignoring him and Robin; he disliked being ignored.
"Yeah," Kon-El sneered. "Now…I can fly my past-self if you'll give yours a ride."
"Whatever," was the curt reply. Nightwing turned away from them, rubbing his shoulder as he went, a wince forming on his lips. Conner glanced to Robin who nodded his own assurances. These two were heroes. One of them was Conner's future-self. They couldn't be all that bad; could they?
I don't like this whole separating thing, Conner thought bitterly as Nightwing gave Robin a helmet and the two raced off. Kon-El caught his attention by grabbing his wrist and gently lifting off. His blue eyes glowed with an understanding that seemed to sing to Conner's fears and soothe them.
"Come on," Kon-El sighed. "I was exaggerating when I said it was halfway around the world. It's more or less down the coast but since Night's taking the long damned way, it'll take us a bit longer since I plan to fly over his head like a Thanagarian looking for a fight. That sound good to you?"
"Sounds great actually," Conner muttered as he began to feel his feet leave the container.
It felt weird. Even when the Super-cycle flew he'd always had somewhere his feet touched solid ground of sorts. When he leapt off things, he knew he'd be landing somewhere with a purpose – most of the time. This was…odd. He couldn't quite get past that it was his own image that was lifting him off the ground let alone that he'd learn how to do the exact same task. He found himself instinctively gripping Kon-El's wrist with both hands, eyes wide as his muscles tensed and pulled him up a bit. It was like he was scared of falling.
That couldn't be right. Superman flew like it was second nature didn't he? Was it just because he lacked the ability that it felt so…alien to do?
"Who are we visiting?" Conner called up to Kon-El in an effort to not look down as the elder version glided through the air currents like it was nothing.
"Someone you know."
"Who?" Robin would have asked that question right?
"Vandal Savage."
"WHO!"
Please review.